Automobile signal switch



44, 49:44. G, GLYNN 4,744,448

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL SWITCH Filed Aug. 7, 1928 Patented Jan. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES PATE GERALD GLYNN,- or DENVER, COLORADO AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL SWITCH Application filed August 7, 1928. Serial No. 298,115.

This invention relates to improvements in switches and has reference more particularly to an indicating switch adapted for use in signals of this type are those which employ a box provided with a plurality of chambers withinoeach of which is located an incandescent lamp. The rear walls of these chambers are provided with openings in the shape of an arrow or of a hand with theindex finger extended. The openings are each closed by means of a colored piece of glass or other transparent medium and when a turn towards the right is to be made, the driver closes a switch which lights the lamp in the chamber having an indicator pointing towards the right and when a turn is to be made towards the left the driver closes the switch which lights the lamp in the chamberwhose indicator points towards the left. As

the driver cannot see the signal it is, of course, impossible for him to tell whether the signal has properly functioned until some special means is provided for this pur pose.

It is the object of this invention to produce a switch for use in connection with signals of this type and which shall be provided with means for automatically indicating to the operator whether the signal has functioned and which shall also indicate which one of the signals is in operation so that if for any reason the operator should make a mistake and display the wrong signal, he will be immediately apprised of th' a be put in position'to quickly correct his error.

The construction and operation of the switch can be most clearly explained and most readily understood when reference is one embodiment thereof has been illustrated andsin which: v v 4 Fig. 1 is a front plan view of the switch 1s fact and thus with a portion broken the construction NT OFFICE away to better shbw Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the switch with the enclosing casing removed;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 2' but shows the position;

Fig. 4 is a side elev direction of arrow 4, in

switch in operative ation looking in the Fig. 3, the enclosing cover being shown in section; and Fig. 5 1s a diagrammatic view showing the .wiring connections and the relationship of several parts.

Numeral 1 represents a base of insulating material to which a cup shaped cover memher 2 is attached. This cover member is of the proper size tov receive the, insulating member 1 and is secured to the latter by means of screws 3. The top of the cover member is provided with an opening 4 which is closed by a thin strip 5 of colored material,'

such as green celluloid. This material is held in place in any suitable manner. Se-

cured to the base is a terminal 6 which is provided with a binding post 7 to which one end of the conductor 8 is attached. Conductor 8 extends to one or any other source of ole of a battery 9 e ectrlc current, the

other pole of the battery being grounded at 10. Supported by the terminal 6 is an electromagnet coil 11 that iron core.

is provided with an The one end of the coil 11 is electrically connected with the terminal 6 and the 0th lductor 12 with the pivot able switch member 14 er end is connected by means of a con- 13 on which the mov- 35 oscillates. A spring 15 of brass or any other electrically conducting material has one end secured to the terminal 6 and extends upwardly andover the top of the electromagnet coil terminating at a point directly above the contact 16. This spring carries an armat other magnetic material.

ure 17-of soft iron or The movable switch contact 14 is secured to a sector-shaped member of conducting material 18, which is er carries the pivot pi secured to the base by screws 19. This memhad to the accompanying drawing in which b n 13 and is provided with two or three depressions 20 with which a projection 21 on the contact 14 cooperates so as to form stops that tend to hold the our 109 and the member 14 to be broken when the latter occupies the neutral position. Extending from each contact 22 is a conductor 23 which connects the contact with one terminal of a lamp 24, the other terminal of the lamp being grounded at 25. is located within a compartment of an indicator or signal which has a hand pointing in one direction, while the other lamp is located in a compartment having a hand-shaped opening pointing in the otherdirection.

A bracket 26 is secured to the base by means of screws 27 and this bracket has a vertical wall 28 which is perforated for the reception of the base 29 of a lamp 30. The contact member 16 is electrically connected with the central contact of lamp 30 and the outer contact of this lamp is connected to the ground by means of a conductor 31.

Let us now assume that the movable switch contact which, by the way is provided with a handle 32 of insulating material, is moved from its neutral position to the position shown in Fig. 3. An electrical circuit is now established from the battery 9 through the electromagnet, through the conductor 12, through the contact 14, to the stationary switch contact 22 and from thence through conductor 23 and lamp 24 to ground 25. Current will now flow and cause the lamp 24 to become illuminated. At the same time the current flowing through coil 11 will energize the electromagnet'and this will attract the armature 17 and close the circuit between contacts 15 and 16, thereby causing lamp 30 to become illuminated. If, for any reason lamp 24 should be broken, the indicator lamp 30 will not light up as no current will then flow through the coil 12 and the operator can therefore tell whether the signal lamp 24 is operating or not. If thecontact 14 is moved towards the right so as to contact with the other stationary contact 22, the other lamp 24 will be illuminated and since the electromagnet is energized the lamp 30 will also be lighted.

It is apparent therefore that lamp 30 will indicate whether the signal lamps 24 are functioning or not, but it is also evident that without further mechanism the operator would be unable to tell which one of the signal lamps was lighted unless he could see the position of the handle 32.

For the purpose of permitting the operator to be able to tell at a glance whether the proper signal lamp is operating or not, the opening 4 in the cover has been provided.

One of the lamps 24.

This opening, as above explained, is closed by means of a transparent colored piece of celluloid 5, and therefore when the contact 14 is moved towards the right in Fig. 5, the lamp 30 being located directly beneath the opening 5 will show a green light. When the contact 14 is moved "towards the left, it will engage the down turned end 33 of lever 34 and cause the latter to be rotated about its pivot 35, into the position shown in Fig. 3. Lever 34 has secured to its outer end a piece of transparent celluloid 36 which is red and which, when it is brought into position between the lamp and the green piece of celluloid 5 will alter the color of the light so as to give the latter a reddish appearance and therefore the operator can readily distinguish between the green and the'reddish light and by this means be able to tell whether the signal switch has been properly closed. A spring 37 tends to hold the lever 34 in inoperative position and therefore as soon as contact 14 is moved to neutral position, the colored celluloid 36 will move away from the opening 4.

Referring now more particularly toFigs. 2, 3 and 4, it will be seen that the movable contact 14 has its free end bent upwardly in the manner indicated at 38 and the upper end bent rearwardly in the manner indicated at 39. The bracket 26 is provided with an upwardly extending arm 40, whose upper end 41 is horizontal and is perforated for the reception of the pivot pin 35. The spring 37 has one end anchored to the end of a stationary member 42 and is constantly under tension so that it 'will normally hold the lever 34 in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

As the switch is intended to be secured to the steering post of an automobile, it is provided with an outwardly extending bracket 43, whose outer end is curved as indicated at 44. A complementary curved member 45 is secured to the latter by means of screws or bolts 46 and by this means the switch can be secured to the steering post column or to any other stationary member. When the switch is in place, it will have the appearance shown in Fig. 1 and is preferably so located that it is within easy reach of the driver who can readily move the lever 32 to either the right or the left or the neutral position. The position of the switch as above explained, can easily be told, even in the dark, owing to the different colored lights that emerge from the opening in the cover and therefore the driver can easily tell whether he is displaying the proper signal or not.

Although this switch has been described as particularly well adapted for use in connection with automobile traiii'c signals, it is evident that it can be used for any other purpose where an indicating switch is desirable, and where itis desirable to be able to tell which one of a plurality of circuits is or has been energized.

It is of course apparent that the inventive ideas can be incorporated in specifically difierent constructions and applicant therefore desires that the present disclosure shall be considered as illustrative of the invention and not as limiting it to the specific embodiment shown.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. An electric switch comprising a base, a terminal carried by the base, a movable switch contact, an electrical connection comprising an electromagnet between the movf able contact and the terminal two spaced stationary switch contacts adapted to be separately engaged by the movable switch contact, a lamp carried by the base, means for connecting the lamp to the terminal when the electromagnet is energized and means cooperating with said movable switch contact for moving a transparent colored member into position over the lamp when the movable contact is brought into engagement with one of the stationary contacts.

2. An electric switch comprising a base, a cover member secured to the base, said cover having an opening, a terminal secured to the base, said terminal being adapted to be connected with a source of electric current, a movable switch contact secured to the base, said contact being electrically connected with the terminahan electromagnet in series in said connection, two spaced stationary contacts located on opposite sides of the movable contact, an electric lamp, means for making an electrical connection between the terminal and the lamp when the electromagnet is energized whereby the interior of the switch will be illuminated whenever the movable contact is moved into electrical contact with either one of the stationary contacts, and means cooperating with said movable switch contact for moving a colored transparent member into position in the opening in the cover when the movable contact is in contact with one of the stationary contacts.

In testimony whereof I aflix fny signature.

GERALD GLYNN. 

